When Nayan S. was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, all his parents hoped was that he become self-reliant. However, as he grew older, Nayan surprised them by going far beyond their expectations.
Although he has issues related to speech, motor skills and reciprocal social interaction, seven-year-old Nayan has demonstrated an understanding of the world that exceeds that of his age group by a far throw.
This knowledge is showcased in Journey of My Soul , a collection of poems, passages, and articles written by him. The book was officially released on Wednesday by Minister for Education C. Ravindranath by handing over a copy to novelist George Onakoor.
Son of Priyanka S. and Syam C.K. of Kollam, Nayan is presently a Class 1 student at Government L.P. School, Attingal.
Autistic savant
He is an autistic savant or an autistic individual with exceptional skills, according to Jayaprakash R., child psychiatrist at Government Medical College here.
Ms. Priyanka says Nayan can understand six Indian and two foreign languages, many of which he has not been exposed to, and do mathematical calculations up to the 7th standard level, she says.
Priyanka took note of his skills when she began teaching him at the age of six. Nayan managed to grasp the entire syllabus of lower and upper kindergarten classes within eight months, prompting his parents to try asking him questions to test his knowledge.
Stumping his parents and doctors alike, Nayan answered questions from a variety of subjects, including mathematics, physics, and even philosophy, correctly. He knows how rainbows are formed, the value of Pi, and the notation of the Hamsadhwani Raga, for instance.
By then, he had been trained to use a laptop, and began communicating effectively through typing.
He began writing poems last March and has made it a hobby since then.
